A woman has shared a post to MumsNet asking for advice after her husband suggested a three-month trial separation after over 20 years of marriage. The woman was left devastated by her husband's request as she said: "I want him to stay as I love him with all my heart."
The partner has suggested he rent a house nearby as the pair have children together to continue regular contact with them. In the post, the woman explains that her husband said that "he needs to think about what his future life looks like".
In the post she wrote: "His idea is to have three month's living the alternative (no plans to see other people though) and then come together to see what he prefers." She asked for the advice of other mums as to whether this was a "normal request". You can get more stories like this by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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She said they had been having some issues but that she felt completely blindsided by his request. She said: "He has this hole inside of him he said and needs to know if that is his part in family life or if it's something else. This way he could test out that theory with a three month break."
She asked for the advice of the other mums as to whether she should agree to the trial separation. In the comments one person said: "He sounds like he’s just too chicken to end it cleanly. I wouldn’t accept it, we’d just be permanently separated. You’re a person with feelings - he doesn’t get to test out theories and 'see what he prefers' like he’s choosing a car. What if he does choose you - can you really trust him or rely on him again? And what the hell are your children supposed to make of Daddy’s experiment?!"
Another person commented: "This isn't sounding like a trial separation at all. He's arranged a rental property and is already trying to see his kids as little as possible? This man mentally checked out of being a father and a husband a long time ago, he's just doing it physically now. I'm so sorry this must be awful for you, I would plan on you being a single parent as I don't think he's coming back."
Whilst another said: "He wants to test out an alternative life whilst keeping you as a fall-back option. F*** that. What do YOU want?"
What are your thoughts on the situation? Comment below.
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